Releases – September 10, 2015
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries has certified a new state record jolthead porgy.
Randy Brock, of Pickens, SC, reeled in the 14-pound, 14-ounce fish on May 27 while fishing off Calabash.
The fish measured 26 inches from the tip of the nose to the fork in the tail and had a girth of 24 inches.
The former state record jolthead porgy weighed 11 pounds, 8 ounces and was caught south of Hatteras Inlet in 1978. The world record jolthead porgy weighed 23 pounds, 4 ounces and was caught off Madeira Beach, FL, in 1990.
Brock caught his fish using squid tentacles for bait on a circle hook with 80-pound test fishing line on a Penn 6/0 Special Senator rod and reel.
He was fishing on the for-hire vessel “Game On,” out of Calabash.
For more information, contact Carole Willis, with the North Carolina Saltwater Fishing Tournament, at (252) 808-8081 or carole.y.willis@ncdenr.gov.
The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher invites the public to “Reel Fun Fishing Day,” 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, 2015.
Visitors can catch best fishing practices and tips and discover the lure of netting the big one. Little anglers casting about for games and activities won’t be disappointed when they learn to tie helpful nautical knots and create take-home crafts. Guests explore more during hands-on programs including surf fishing classes and crabbing expeditions.
There’s a Surf Fishing Workshop on Saturday, September 26, at 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
This 3-hour workshop includes one hour of classroom discussion, and then surf fishing on the beach nearby. All equipment and bait provided. Program is rain or shine, with extra activities added in event of bad weather (e.g., throwing a cast net). Ages 10 and older. Fee: $15 per participant. Aquarium admission is not included, and pre-registration is required.
There’s a Salt Marsh and Crabbing Workshop on Saturday, September 26, at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Join us for this hands-on program that introduces participants to the challenge of catching blue crabs. Lessons in crab biology and crabbing equipment prepare participants for an exciting expedition outdoors to catch (and release) crabs. All bait and equipment is provided. For ages 7 and older. Fee: $19 for ages 13 and older, $17 for ages 7-12. Pre-registration is required.
“Reel Fun Fishing Day” is free with Aquarium admission. Outdoor adventures are an additional fee. Pre-register for tours at ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher or call (910) 772-0542.
The Sea Turtle Advisory Committee to the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet at 6:00 p.m. on Sept. 17 at the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Office, 943 Washington Square Mall, Washington.
The committee is scheduled to review information from the division’s At-Sea Observer Program, including the number of large-mesh gill net fishing days in each management unit, and to give feedback on potential amendments to the state’s Sea Turtle and Atlantic Sturgeon incidental take permits.
For more information contact Chris Batsavage, Protected Resources Section chief, at (252) 808-8009 or Chris.Batsavage@ncdenr.gov.
The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission is accepting comments on proposed information updates to the Kingfish and Interjurisdictional fishery management plans.
The proposed updates can be found on the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ website at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/fmps-under-development.
State law requires the division to prepare a fishery management plan for adoption by the Marine Fisheries Commission for all commercially and recreationally significant species or fisheries that comprise state marine and estuarine resources. The law also requires periodic review of these plans.
An information update is a procedural method for reviewing a fishery management plan that refreshes the plan document with the most current statistics, trends, and research available, but does not propose any regulatory or other management changes. The division and commission are soliciting review of the information updates by the public to ensure the latest factual and background data have been included.
The Kingfish Plan covers three species: southern, northern, and Gulf kingfishes. These species are also commonly known as sea mullet or whiting.
Through the Interjurisdictional Plan, the state adopts by reference fishery management plans approved by federal councils or the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
Written comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on Sept. 28.
Comments on the Information Update to the Kingfish Fishery Management Plan should be addressed to Beth Egbert, N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 1965, Manteo, NC 27954, or sent by email to Beth.Egbert@ncdenr.gov.
Comments on the Information Update to the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Management Plan should be addressed to Michelle Duval, N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, NC 28557 or sent by email to Michelle.Duval@ncdenr.gov.
The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission is scheduled to give final approval to the information updates at its November business meeting.
The daily trip limit for the commercial harvest of vermilion snapper in the South Atlantic is reduced from 1,000 pounds gutted weight to 500 pounds gutted weight, effective 12:01 a.m. (local time) September 10, 2015. NOAA Fisheries has determined 75 percent of the July-December quota of 438,260 pounds whole weight will be landed by September 10, 2015.
Reduction of the commercial vermilion snapper trip limit in the South Atlantic complies with regulations implemented under the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region. The 500-pound gutted weight trip limit applies to vessels with a South Atlantic Unlimited Snapper-Grouper Permit fishing for vermilion snapper in or from the federal waters in the South Atlantic region.
The 500-pound gutted weight trip limit will remain in effect until the quota is reached and vermilion snapper closes or until the end of the current July – December 2015 fishing season, whichever occurs first.
Commercial harvest of gray triggerfish in South Atlantic waters closed, at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on September 8, 2015. Commercial harvest will reopen at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on January 1, 2016. The 2015 July – December commercial quota is 63,918 pounds whole weight. Reports indicate that landings are approaching the 2015 July – December quota for the commercial sector.
The operator of a vessel with a federal commercial permit for snapper-grouper that is landing gray triggerfish for sale must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such gray triggerfish prior to 12:01 a.m. (local time), September 8, 2015. The prohibition on sale does not apply to sale or purchase of gray triggerfish that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m. (local time), September 8, 2015, and held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
During the closure: (1) Harvest or possession of gray triggerfish is limited to the recreational bag and possession limits; (2) Sale and purchase of gray triggerfish is prohibited; and (3) The closure applies in both state and federal waters for vessels with a federal South Atlantic Unlimited Snapper-Grouper Permit.
This closure is necessary to protect the snapper-grouper fishery.
The Standard Commercial Fishing License Eligibility Board to the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will meet at 10:30 a.m., Oct. 21, at the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Wilmington Regional Office, 127 North Cardinal Drive Extension, Wilmington.
The board will consider applications deemed complete and submitted by Sept. 25.
The board meets two-to-three times per year to consider license applications. For directions on applying for a commercial fishing license, go to http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/commercial-fishing-license-information and click on the link to Eligibility Pool Application.
For more information, contact division License Eligibility Clerk Ann Bordeaux-Nixon at (910) 796-7261 or Ann.Bordeaux-Nixon @ncdenr.gov.
